Mock assignment

Assignment brief

Qualification 
90 Credit Diploma in Creative Media Production - Games Design
Unit number and title
Unit 78 – Digital Graphics for Computer Games - partial
Assessor name
Harry Arnold
Date issued
12/10/2015
Hand in deadline
22/10/2015

Assignment title
Transformation
The purpose of this assignment is to demonstrate that the learner:
      Be able to generate concept art ideas for computer game graphics
      Be able to create digital graphics for a computer game following industry practice
Scenario
Games studio Lazy Eye Media are recruiting for trainee digital artists. As part of the recruitment process you have been asked to reinvent yourself as the main character within a new game. You will devise the setting, genre, objectives and storyline for the game. Following this, you will produce a profile for your character and produce screen and print-ready concept art and marketing material. You will be using yourself as the model for your character.

In addition to the final artwork, Lazy Eye Media are very interested in how you have made the work, your design process.

This is your chance to apply the software skills you have learnt to date. You will be using Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator to produce both raster and vector artwork.
Task 1 - Schedule

Complete a schedule for the project using the supplied template. This burn-down chart will help you allocate enough time for each task and hit the deadline. Your schedule will need to be reviewed and updated at least once per week.

Remember that you are trying to generate thoroughly thought through concept art ideas for computer game graphics and apply project management techniques to direct a project, showing creativity and flair and working independently to professional expectations.
                                                                                                                                                                     
This provides evidence Unit 78 – P2, M2, D2
Task 2 - Game Genre, Setting and Synopsis Research

Produce an ideas map that explores the genre of your game, its storyline and objective.

Alongside this ideas-generation, choose a setting for your game from the following options:

Medieval
Steampunk
Survival
Horror
Fantasy           
Historical
Sci-fi
Apocalyptic
Warfare          
Contemporary

Produce a research document containing visual research into your chosen setting with supporting notes. You should look for inspiration from existing games, but also TV, film, literature, graphic novels, current affairs etc. This document will give you guidance as to the style of your character. Use whichever software packages suit you best, BUT cite any sources you have used in your research, both written and visual.

Following this, write up a brief but clear synopsis of your game. Treat this as if you are producing the blurb on the back of a game package or on a download site. Illustrate this with imagery if it helps to communicate your idea, BUT cite any sources you have used in your research.

Remember that you are trying to generate thoroughly thought through concept art ideas for computer game graphics and apply project management techniques to direct a project, showing creativity and flair and working independently to professional expectations.
                                                                                                                                                                     
This provides evidence Unit 78 – P2, M2, D2
Task 3 – Character Profile
Produce a clear and detailed profile of the game’s main character. You will need to devise a name and produce a biography that describes their appearance and explains their personality, powers, skills etc.

Remember that you are trying to generate thoroughly thought through concept art ideas for computer game graphics and apply project management techniques to direct a project, showing creativity and flair and working independently to professional expectations.
                                                                                                                                                                     
This provides evidence Unit 78 – P2, M2, D2
Task 4 – Production

Based on your planning, with an assistant, carry out a photoshoot of possible poses for your character. You may want to include simple props to assist in the design process. Having reviewed the results, you may find that you need to shoot additional shots. It is important that you are playful and experiment, as the more imagery you create, the more options you give yourself.

Using your photographs and suitable found imagery for backgrounds and props (remember to cite sources) use Adobe Photoshop to produce an amalgam of your character and setting. Having a range of resolutions and inconsistent colour values within the artwork is not critical, as you will be tracing from this amalgam, but try to keep the quality high wherever possible.

Place your raster artwork into an Adobe Illustrator document, locking it into a template layer and then build your vector design in the layers above.

Ensure that you have included all aspects of your working processes within your blog posts. You will need to include explanatory notes, imagery and screen-shots from the software you are using.

Remember that you are trying to create computer game graphics and apply project management techniques to direct a project, to a technical quality that reflects near-professional standards following industry practice, showing creativity and flair and working independently to professional expectations.                                                                                                                                                                     
This provides evidence Unit 78 – P3, M3, D3
Task 5 – Presentation

Present your completed artwork on the supplied templates and publish them to your blog.

Remember that you are trying to create computer game graphics and apply project management techniques to direct a project, to a technical quality that reflects near-professional standards following industry practice, showing creativity and flair and working independently to professional expectations.                                                                                                                                                                     
This provides evidence Unit 78 – P3, M3, D3
Task 6 – Review

Write an evaluation of your project. Use your plan, production log and blog posts to identify the strengths and weaknesses of your design process. This is best carried out by producing a conclusion to the design process evidenced in your blog. Try to establish whether or not your finished product has achieved the aim of the project.

Remember that you are trying to create computer game graphics and apply project management techniques to direct a project, to a technical quality that reflects near-professional standards following industry practice, showing creativity and flair and working independently to professional expectations.                                                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                                                     
This provides evidence Unit 78 – P3, M3, D3